SARUNI RHINO CAMP – SERA COMMUNITY CONSERVANCY – NORTHERN KENYA

Saruni Rhino is an exclusive and intimate camp located in Kenya’s wild North in Sera Community Conservancy, 350,000 hectares of unspoiled wilderness, a little under 2 hours from Saruni Samburu lodge in nearby Kalama Conservancy.

Sera Community Conservancy is home to around 16,000 Samburu semi-nomadic pastoralists which form part of a sub-tribe of the Maasai and it is here is where a sanctuary within a conservancy was formed.  A group of black rhino were re-introduced to Sera Conservancy rhino sanctuary to spread and increase Kenya’s black rhino population and encourage visitors to the remote and stunning part of the country.

The camp is located a half hour’s drive from the community-owned and managed Sera Rhino Sanctuary – the first in East Africa where black rhino can be tracked on foot.  One of the highlights of your stay will be the chance to trek to see the rhino – an exhilarating and exciting experience as you come face to face with a rhino on the ground.

The vastness and purity of this landscape, combined with the unique local culture, beautiful and comfortable accommodation and welcoming hospitality makes a stay at Saruni Rhino Camp the highlight of many of our guest’s safaris.

LOCATION

Saruni Rhino is located in Sera Community Conservancy in northern Kenya.

CAMP

The camp has just 3 bandas – rustic stone cottage with a thatched roof and canvas roll down windows – which have flushing toilets, hot and cold water and natural stone showers.

The bandas are privately situated along a spectacular dry riverbed lined with doum palms and you can enjoy the nearby waterhole visited daily by herds of elephants, impala, kudu, monkeys and much, much more, including the famous sand grouse spectacle. All this can be enjoyed from the comfort of your veranda, the dining and lounge area, the swimming pool or the popular day bed.

Banda One – sleeps up to 4 (1 x double and the possibility to add up to 2 additional singles), with a shared, covered outside bathroom and toilet. The room is open plan in style with no room dividers and has a beautiful private sandy terrace with chairs and tables overlooking the lugga – dry riverbed.

Banda Two – can sleep 2 people (1 x double bed). The bathroom and flushable toilet is ensuite within the banda and has a natural stone shower.  A beautiful private sandy terrace has chairs and tables overlooking the lugga – dry riverbed. A nearby tree bed provides additional relaxation space.

Banda Three – is a newly-built family double villa with 2 double bedrooms – 1 x queen double, and 1 x queen double or 2 x twin singles. Each bedroom has its own ensuite bathroom with flushing toilet and natural stone shower. A shared lounge provides a cool retreat from the spacious, large veranda which also has outside seating and tables and has the best view of the waterhole visited daily by elephants, monkeys, impala, sandgrouse, guinea fowl, kudu – and much, much more. It was built from local stone and has a traditional thatched roof.

The Rhino Tracking Experience is only available to guests over 16 years of age. Children under the age of 16 years can stay at Saruni Rhino paying the current child’s rate and conservation fee but due to safety reasons will not be permitted to participate in the Rhino Tracking Experience. Children under the age of 5 stay free of charge when sharing with parents/adults

ACTIVITIES

The Sera Community Conservancy is home to one of the most fascinating ecosystems where you have the opportunity to explore wildlife, rhinos and Samubu culture and see the ‘Samburu Five’ – rare and endemic to the Samburu ecosystem:  Gerenuk, Reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, Grevy’s zebra, Beisa oryx.  Other wildlife you may see are leopard, striped hyena, Civet cat and African wild dog.  Birdlife is outstanding.

You are guided by Samburu warriors who are passionate about their land and their culture, learning first-hand about their customs and traditions and ancient, local knowledge – a truly unique experience.

Black Rhino Trekking – pioneering walking safari which offers a unique and exhilarating adventure whilst also allowing you to actively contribute to the protection of this iconic species. You can track black rhino on foot – accompanied by an expert Saruni guide and a highly-trained Sera Community Conservancy ranger for safety – to spot any of the 17 rhino throughout the 54,000 hectares-large sanctuary.

Guided Game Drives – morning, afternoon and all day game drives through Sera Community conservancy – a fantastic habitat for African wildlife especially the Samburu Special Five – baisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and Grevy’s zebra.

Bush Meals – enjoy your breakfast, lunch and starlit dinner in a dry riverbed under the vast African skies or a picnic lunch while watching elephants, waterbuck, lion, impala and the Samburu Five.

Guided Bush Walks – walking safaris are individually tailored to your interests and are set in outstanding landscapes. Walking with the Samburu warriors out in the African bush is a fantastic experience and offers the opportunity to learn from their knowledge of the plants, animals and landscapes.

Waterhole Watching – just metres away from the comfort of your veranda there is a waterhole that attracts wildlife throughout the day and evening – when it is lit with a spotlight. Herds of elephants gather daily to enjoy the water.

Sundowners – the sundowner is a well-deserved drink at the end of a long day on safari to ‘salute’ the African sun as it is setting.   Drive to a panoramic viewpoint and enjoy your favourite drink along with a selection of scrumptious ‘bitings’; small snacks to whet appetites ahead dinner.

Singing Wells – Sera Community is home to The Fifty Wells, ‘Kisima Hamsini’, a series of springs where local pastoralists take their livestock to water, digging up water from the wells to fill up holders and troughs. The Singing Wells are a driving distance away and can be visited with some notice – a rare treat to see the local community singing songs recognisable only by their own cattle to encourage them to come to the wells to drink.

Sand grouse Spectacular – the unique ‘show’ of tens of thousands of sand grouse that swoop to take the water, the flapping of their wings creating one of the most sensory delights possible. Every day, these rare Lichtenstein sand grouse descend in swarms upon the few sources of water providing fantastic photographic opportunities.

Reteti Elephant Sanctuary – located in Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy (around 2 hours drive from Rhino Camp) Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is the first community owned and managed elephant sanctuary in Africa. The Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is situated in the remote Mathews Range – among Kenya’s second largest elephant population – and takes in orphaned and abandoned elephant calves with the aim to release them back into the wild herds adjoining the Sanctuary.

SARUNI RHINO IS OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND

SARUNI RHINO IS FAMILY FRIENDLY AND THE CAMP WELCOMES CHILDREN OF ALL AGES.  THERE IS FAMILY ACCOMMODATION AT THE CAMP.  DO NOTE THAT CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 16 CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN THE RHINO TRACKING EXPERIENCE.

SARUNI RHINO IS A REMOTE AND UNFENCED CAMP – THE MAIN REAON FOR VISITING THIS CAMP IS TO EXPERIENCE THE WILDERNESS AREA AND TRACK RHINOS.  WE RECOMMEND THIS CAMP FOR THOSE OVER 16 TO GET THE BEST EXPERIENCE.